October and November 2015 XXOO

Sweet Caroline,

We switched to a REAL violin earlier this month, and you are obsessed. You want to practice several times a day. Apparently, the live concerts we have taken you to have made an impact, because you bounce you knees, sway, and really get into the music as you practice open A and E string. You are doing pretty well, though your ability to hold the instrument up with your chin has not transferred from the cardboard box you had been practicing with.

For a city girl, you get a lot of interaction with large domesticated animals. Several times a month, you either go to a birthday party, church event, school event, local fair, etc. and have the opportunity to love on extremely hairy cattle and fuzzy sheep. You adore all animals, but you have a special place in your heart for the class guinea pigs and read to them daily (as well as give them constant love, pets, and attention).

You love your baby sister and talk to her daily. You use my belly button as your mouth piece and tell her all about your day. You even display items to my belly to show her (i.e. newly painted finger nails, art projects, etc.).

One of the smartest things you did last month is put away all of the groceries from Trader Joes independently. I'm always amazed by just how observant you are, and the fact that you separated dairy products, fruits, and vegetables into the correct refrigerator drawers, placed frozen items in the freezer and canned goods in the pantry left me speechless. You finished the task by folding all but one bag up and placing them into a single paper bag near the recycling bin. Your one mistake was placing the boxed tomato soup in the refrigerator. (Which, in your defense, is the one place you have seen it, since it requires refrigeration after opening.)

We became members of Stone Mountain last month, and you have gone twice already. The first time, we went to the Scottish Highland Games and just last weekend, we went to the Christmas Village. You got to ride the skylift, sing carols on the train, and visit a snow fairy princess.

You were Little Miss Muffet for Halloween and went both Trunk-or-Treating at church and Trick-or-Treating up the street. Thanksgiving was at Grandma Mary's and Grandpa Bob's, and you had great fun in the kitchen.

I know you are going to have a fabulous next few weeks as we get into the Christmas season.

I love you so much1!!

Xxoo,

Mommy

Violin Practice

Fun Mountain Time!

 Scottish Highland Games

School Fun

Halloween

Fun Around the House

Thanksgiving at Grandma's

Daddy's Little Draftsman

Playing "Ms. Debra" at school.

Stone Mountain Christmas Experience

 

Christmas Tree Shopping (loving the "baby trees")

Caroline is Two-and-a-Half!!

Caroline, 

I know that each month, I express amazement by your language development, but this month is no different. It is hard for me to believe that back in March I was super concerned and took you for a speech evaluation (which lasted all of five minutes because you refused to cooperate). This week, I had parent-teacher conferences, and the night before, I was explaining to you that Daddy would take you Ms. Roopal's in the morning, and I would pick you up around 4. You asked if I would be packing you the lunch we had prepared together just an hour or so before. When I replied yes, you said, "Please pack the pink owl icepack and Halloween napkins." I was shocked and made sure to pack those two things when compiling your things the next day. 

You continue to love going to Strawberry Hill and are completely enamored by the baby bunnies that faithfully visit twice daily. In August, you were able to visit the Georgia Aquarium, and we took you to the Fox Theatre for you to see Frozen for the very first time. You have been OBSESSED with Anna, Elsa, and Olaf for over a year, so the viewing was probably way overdue. You started school for the very fist time away from Mommy, and are loving Ms. Debra and all of your friends. 

You are obsessed with driving cars, and when left unattended, you quickly find your way up to the driver's seat, buckle the seatbelt, and pretend to make your way over to "Cookie Joe's" (Trader Joe's). 

The milk and water pictures came from a day that I conducted an unusual experiment with you. I had noticed all summer that you had been consuming a large amount of liquids. However, I had dismissed this with the excuse that we spend a lot of time outdoors playing and that it was very hot. One day, it was extremely rainy, and so I decided it was the perfect day to measure your liquid intake (since we would be spending a very limited time outside or engaged in strenuous physical activity). I made no effort to curb your drinking, and you drank 15 eight-ounce cups of liquid!! (6 cups of milk - you were so excited I wasn't cutting you off at the usual 4 cups, and 9 cups of water) I immediately scheduled an appointment with your pediatrician to rule out diabetes. However, your blood sugar was normal, and we have since cut out all water bottles and cups with straws. Since switching to open cups, your liquid intake has greatly reduced. 

Some other highlights from the past few weeks included helping Daddy with some woodworking projects, box seats to the GA Tech football game, entrance to the 755 Club at Turner Field, your first H&F burger, a visit to Rosie's farm, and a trip to the North Georgia Fair. 

We officially started violin lessons this month, and you LOVE it. (If nothing else, you love the lollipop at the end and independently bring your violin to me for practice daily.)

Lastly, you may be getting an Elsa costume for Christmas. Your current "Elsa costume" includes bunny ears as a crown and blue super hero cape. (You do own at least a half dozen other Disney princess costumes and real crowns, but this is currently your favorite getup.)

Love you lots and lots, 

Mommy & Daddy